After my morning shift at the café, I sprint across campus to Adams Theater. It’s the first day of rehearsals for the spring play. Every semester the screenwriting department teams up with the theater department to put on an original performance written and performed entirely by students for a Spring Showcase. This year is the first time a junior’s play has ever been selected. My original play, The Tragic Love Story of Hector and Imelda will be performed in just a few months and I’m so nervous I feel like I’m going to throw up any time I stand still long enough to think about it. Which is thankfully not often.

My advisor, Professor Morrison, the screenwriting department head, is standing just inside and greets me. “Katrina, I was just talking about you. Meet Brody Bradley.”

Brody Bradley. His tongue twister of a name works because he’s the kind of guy that couldn’t possibly have a normal name. Someday he’ll be on Broadway or starring in an Oscar-nominated movie and crowds will go wild for him.

“Nice to meet you.” I shift my backpack up higher on my shoulder and offer my hand.

“Brody here is going to be your Hector.”

My Hector.

Anxiety on high, I shiver when his big hand encloses mine and bright green eyes take me in. If I hadn’t seen him perform, I’d be worried. His personality is big and charming – loud. Nothing like Hector’s understated appeal. But I’ve seen Brody pull off crazier. Last semester he played the phantom in a re-telling of The Phantom of the Opera and brought me, and the rest of a sold-out show, to tears.

“I’ll leave you two to chat. Excuse me.” Professor Morrison places a hand at his waist in an almost bow-like gesture and steps away from us.

“So, you’re the screenwriter huh?”

“Aspiring. Yeah.”

“Not aspiring anymore. I’ve read the script, it’s good. I’m really excited about it.”

“You are?”

One side of his mouth lifts and he cocks his head to the side like he’s trying to figure me out. “Of course. Come on, let me introduce you to everyone else.”

The next hour is a whirlwind as Brody introduces me to the entire theater department. Faces I’ve admired and some others that work behind the scenes. I’m awe-stricken and totally inspired. And the smile on my face is large and genuine when I exchange numbers with Brody and Tabitha who is playing Imelda.

“A bunch of us usually go out Friday night after rehearsals,” Tabitha tosses out as we’re leaving. “You in?”

“Oh, I…” My voice trails off as I reach for an excuse and realize I have none. The few times I’ve been invited out to parties I’ve had to say no because of Christian. We don’t have family in Valley so that means no mom’s nights out unless there’s daycare provided. That’s not something you see listed on the campus bulletin board.

But there’s no Christian this weekend and Tabitha looks at me with such contagious excitement at the prospect of hanging out. I surprise myself by saying, “That sounds fun.”